The Synthetic biology Manufacturing of Advanced materials Research Center (SMARC) harnesses manufacturing technology and the potential of synthetic biology to unlock the next generation of advanced materials with unprecedented functional properties. We appropriate nature by transforming microbes into microbial cells chemical factories (see above), paving the way for sustainable production of engineering materials that behave similar to or better than nature’s building blocks, including spider silk, elastin, and resilin.
Unlike traditional synthetic chemistry, our approach offers precise monomer sequence control and combinatorial synthesis, empowering us to create synthetic biological materials (SBMs) with DNA-encoded structure and unrivaled versatility. We leverage technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Additive Manufacturing to enable revolutionary material design, discovery, and manufacturing for a range of applications (see to the right).
While the biomanufacturing industry has flourished in recent years, with a focus on biotherapeutics, we are determined to tackle the fundamental scientific and engineering challenges specific to synthetic biological materials.
At SMARC, our convergence revolves around three key areas: designing SBMs with tailored properties, optimizing biomanufacturing and material processing techniques, and scaling up economically and environmentally friendly SBM production processes. Furthermore, we research ways to foster the adoption of SBM technologies by developing best practices and engaging with stakeholders. Join us in shaping the future of materials engineering. SMARC is poised to revolutionize the landscape, offering accelerated discovery (see below), optimized production, and environmentally sustainable solutions that drive innovation and advance biomanufacturing.
